Does AI threaten jobs? The most exposed roles and the future of work
Does artificial intelligence threaten people’s jobs? Which occupations are most affected, and what does the future of work look like?
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence tools has raised concerns for many about the future of their jobs, especially given these technologies' ability to write text, analyze data, handle customer service and complete tasks that used to require human time and effort. But the picture is not limited to job disappearance; the broader impact lies in changing the tasks required within many professions, and in the emergence of new job opportunities alongside the decline of other roles.
Estimates from the International Labour Organization (ILO) indicate that roughly one in four jobs worldwide could be affected to some degree by generative AI. However, the organization emphasizes that changing the nature of jobs or some of their tasks is more likely than fully replacing workers, because many professions require human skills that technology alone does not easily replicate.
Does a job being affected mean it will be lost?
The fact that artificial intelligence can perform some tasks of a job does not mean the entire profession will disappear. AI may help an employee draft a document, summarize a text or organize data quickly, while the employee still needs to review the results, communicate with others, make decisions and take responsibility for the work.
The difference appears between Automating a specific task andEliminating an entire job in that a single job often combines repetitive tasks and others that require judgment, experience and human interaction. Therefore the employee's role may change, focusing on tasks that need analysis, review or direct engagement, while using AI tools to carry out other parts of the work.
Which jobs are most likely to change?
According to the ILO, office and administrative jobs appear most exposed to changes in tasks because they rely on text processing, data handling and information organization. Some roles in media, software and finance may also be affected as AI capabilities for content creation and information analysis evolve. The organization stresses that exposure to the technology does not automatically equal job loss.
Among the tasks that can change rapidly are: data entry, preparing initial reports, responding to repetitive inquiries, preliminary research, scheduling appointments, and creating content drafts. These activities may require fewer hours or a different distribution of work among employees depending on how institutions use the new tools.
By contrast, work that depends on field presence, manual skill, direct care, or on building trust and negotiation is harder to replace completely. Still, these roles can also benefit from digital tools that assist with planning, documentation or serving beneficiaries.
Will AI create new jobs?
New technologies do not only affect existing jobs; they also raise demand for skills and roles related to developing, operating, securing and analyzing these systems and their data. The World Economic Forum (WEF) sees AI and big data, alongside cybersecurity and digital literacy, among the fastest-growing skill demands in the coming years.
The Forum estimates, based on employer projections and broader labor-market trends, that by 2030 the world could see 170 million jobs created and 92 million jobs displaced, yielding a net increase of 78 million jobs. These figures relate to combined market transformations—including technological, economic, demographic and environmental changes—and therefore should not be attributed to AI alone.
Who is most at risk?
The impact does not depend only on a job title but on the nature of tasks and the ability to learn new ways of working. A worker in a stable profession may be more exposed to change if most of their day relies on repetitive steps, while a worker in a faster-changing field can maintain opportunities by developing expertise and adding new tools to their work.
The effect may also differ between countries and organizations; the extent of technology adoption, internet availability, training and investment determines the speed of uptake. The ILO notes that the actual impact will vary according to technical infrastructure, skills and policies in place, meaning global forecasts alone do not give an accurate picture of every local market's future.
How should an employee prepare?
A worker does not need to become a programmer to preserve their prospects, but they do need to understand the tools that may enter their field and train to use them consciously. It is useful to focus on developing skills that are hard to fully automate, such as analytical thinking, communication, problem-solving, customer interaction, and reviewing and verifying information.
One should not rely on AI outputs without scrutiny; these tools can produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The employee remains responsible for checking what the AI produces, protecting work data, understanding the technology's limits, and ensuring its use complies with professional requirements.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence represents a real challenge for some tasks and jobs, but it does not mean all workers will be replaced or that jobs will disappear at the same rate. It is more likely that the nature of work will change: some repetitive tasks will decline, digital and human skills will become more important, and new opportunities linked to the technology will emerge.
The most prepared worker will be the one who learns to use new tools, develops professional expertise, and adds to their work what technology alone cannot provide: sound judgment, communication, responsibility and an understanding of people's needs.
